Closure device



.Nov. 26 1957 EDWARDS 2,814,405

CLOSURE DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4m 68 354/ INVENTOR.

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' CLOSURE DEVICE Filed 090. :51; 1954'. 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. v

Nov. 26, 1957 B. EDWARDS 2,314,405

CLOSURE DEVICE Filed Dec. 51, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'hmmg:

United States Patent CLOSURE DEVICE Bryant Edwards, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application December 31, 1954, Serial No. 47 9,031

Claims. (Cl. 215-41) This invention is concerned generally with the artof sealing containers such as bottles and jars, and is concerned morespecifically with a new and improved removable scaling cap which iscapable of reuse after removal.

Most caps which seal a container such as a bottle or jar have requireddeformation for removal, thereby rendering the caps unsuitable forfurther closure of a bottle or jar, particularly when it is necessary ordesirable to form a tight closure approximating a seal to preventpassage of air and other fluids into or out of such containers. Is istrue that screw caps generally can be reused, but screw caps often arediflicult to remove, and the production of screw caps and accompanyingscrew topped bottles or jars is expensive. Various types of non-metallicclosure members for jars or bottles have been utilized, but theseclosure members also have had serious defects. Many of them have beentoo expensive for throw-away use. Others have failed to seal thecontainer with which they have been associated, and in general thenon-metallic closure members have been too easily dislodged from thecontainers with which they have been associated. Others have requiredspecial and expensive bottle capping equipment for applying the caps.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedclosure member of plastic or other elastic or deformable material whichis capable of sealing a jar or bottle, which readily may be removed andreinstalled for subsequent use, and which readily is installed initiallyby existing bottle capping equipment with only minor modification ofsuch equipment being required.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bottle or jar capof elastic material comprising a cap element and a retaining memberintegral therewith and telescopically associated with the cap elementfor holding the same tightly in place.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide anelastic cap for jars and bottles comprising a cap element and aretaining ring connected thereto by an integral connection which readilyis sheared whereby to allow telescoping of said ring with said capelement to hold said cap element tightly in place.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bottle or jar capof the character contemplated by the foregoing objects, wherein theretaining ring is provided with a tab facilitating removal thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a removable andreplaceable cap structure for jars or bottles which is adapted for usein sprinkling material, such as salt or the like, from a bottle or jar.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plurality ofinterconnected bottle or jar caps of elastic material adapted to serveas a carrier of such jars or bottles.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a capstructure of elastic material for jars, bottles, or the like, comprisinga cap element and a retaining ring therefor, said cap element andretaining ring having interlocking means thereon preventing accidentalremoval of the retaining ring.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cap structure constructed inaccordance with the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the structure placed on top of abottle;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cap structure takensubstantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the cap structure mounted on top ofa bottle and before telescoping of the parts of the cap structure;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 after telescoping of the parts andtaken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5a is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a minor modification;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view generally similar to Fig. 2 showing the capstructure in telescoped position on top of a bottle, the retaining ringin this instance being provided with a tab for removing the ring;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the modification of Fig.7 as applied to the top of a bottle with the parts of the cap structurein telescoped relation;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a further modification of thecap structure adapted for use as a salt shaker cover or the like;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a bottle adapted foruse as a salt shaker or the like by means of the cap structure of Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is a further modified form of the invention wherein the capelement and retaining ring are made of different materials;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal View of the form of the invention shown inFig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a plurality of cap structures inaccordance with the principles of my invention interconnected for use incarrying a plurality of bottles;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the form of the invention shown in Fig.13 before telescoping of the cap elements and retaining rings;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 13 and taken substantially along the line 15-15 of Fig.13;

Fig. 16 is a plan View of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a further form of the invention asapplied to a jar;

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view through the form of theinvention shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 after assembly of the cap structurewith the jar, but before telescoping of the parts of the cap structure;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 following telescoping of theretaining ring with the cap element;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing the cap structure assembled withthe jar;

Fig. 22 is a somewhat simplified view illustrating the telescoping ofthe parts of the cap structure; and

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view generally similarto Fig. 20 and showing a further modified form of the invention.

Referring now in greater particularity to the drawings, and first toFigs. 1-5, there will be seen a cap structure identified generally bythe numeral 30. This cap structure comprises a cap element 32 having aflat top or diaphragm 34 adapted to lie across the top of a bottle 36 orthe like, and a depending circumferential flange 38. The flange 33isprovided with an inner, annular ridge or head 40 adapted to liebeneath the bead 42 of the bottle 36 and against the bilge 44 directlybeneath the bead 42 at the top of the bottle. The bead or ridge 40 inthe cap flange 38 is spaced from the diaphragm 34 by a groove or neckportion 46 adapted to receive the bottle head 42.. The cap structure 30also includes a ring 48 joined to the cap element 32 along the junctionof the diaphragm 34 and flange 33 by a narrow integral section 50adapted to be fractured or sheared by downward pressure on the ringrelative to the cap element.

The cap structure, including both the cap element and the ring, is madeof elastic or deformable material, plastic material being preferred, andpolyethylene plastic being a preferred example. The inside diameter ofthe retaining ring 48 and the outside diameter of the cap element flange38 are substantially equal prior to installation on a bottle, as readilymay be seen in Fig. 3. When the cap element is placed over the top of abottle, it is stretched somewhat, thereby causing the outside. diameterof the flange 38 to be enlarged somewhat over the inside diameter of theretaining ring 48, this flange also being tapered slightly outwardlyaway from the ring, as may be seen in Fig. 4. Thus, when a force isapplied to the ring to force it down over the cap, by means such as ablow of a mallet or hammer, the ring will be stretched over the flangeand thereby will grip the flange and force it tightly about the top ofthe bottle, the bead 40 of the cap element being deformed substantiallyinto conformity with the junction of the bottle bead 42 and bilge 44, asreadily may be seen in Fig. 5. The bottle thus is sealed sufficientlytightly for shipment in commerce, and any number of items could beshipped in the bottle. Such items might include catsup and other typesof spices or condiments, or any of a variety of other items orsubstances. The cap element will be held tightly in place as long as thering encircles the cap flange. In order to facilitate removal of thering from the cap element when it is desired to utilize the contents ofthe bottle 36 or the like, the ring may be knurled or provided withserrations around its outer surface, as is illustrated at 52. Followingremovel of the ring, the cap element can be pulled off the top of thebottle by the fingers, generally. without the aid of any additionalimplement, and at the most requiring a simple implement such as a tableknife for added force. Since the cap is formed of elastic material, thecap element is not damaged by forcing it from the top of a bottle, andit may readily be reinstalled over the top of the bottle, againstretching somewhat in being so applied. The stretching of the flange ofthe cap element causes it to hold rather well on the top of the bottlefor home storage, but it will be understood that the cap in this manneris not mounted on the bottle top nearly so securely as when theretaining ring is in place. It will be understood that the bottle andcontents could not be shipped in commerce with only the cap element inplace, the retaining ring being omitted.

As is shown in Fig. a, the ring 48 could extend above the cap elementand be provided with an inner groove 51 receiving a disk 53 havingidentifying indicia or advertising matter thereon.

A modified form of the invention as heretofore described is shown inFig. 6, and in this modification it is simpler to remove the retainingring. The parts shown in Fig. 6 are generally identical with thoseheretofore shown and described, and are identified by similar numeralswith the addition of the suflix a. Thus, the cap structure comprises acap element 32a and a retaining ring 480 holding the cap element on thetop of a bottle 36a. The outer surface of the retaining ring may beknurled in accordance with the previous embodiment, or it may not be.The significant feature is that the retaining ring is provided with anintegral tab 54 which pref- 4 erably is arranged with its plane more orless perpendicular to the axis of the cap structure. This tabfacilitates removal of the ring from the cap element, and this may insome instances be extremely desirable. It will be understood that thecap element and retaining ring originally are joined together by anarrow shear section similar to that previously described.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.In this embodiment of the invention, the parts which are similar tothose heretofore described are identified by similar numerals with theaddition of the suffix b. The cap element 32!) of the cap structure 30!;remains substantially as before, comprising a top wall or diaphragm 34bhaving a depending peripheral flange 33/2. The flange again is providedwith an internal ridge or head 4% and with a groove or space 4-6/1 forreceiving the bead 42b at the top of a bottle 36!). The retaining ring48:) in the present instance is not knurled on its outer surface, butrather is provided with a tab or finger piece 56 for facilitatingremoval of the retaining ring from the cap element. The retaining ringis not integrally con nected to the cap element by a shear section inthe present instance, but rather is integrally connected by means of aflexible strip 58. This flexible strip is not sheared during telescopingof the cap element and ring, but simply is flexed into place and mayserve along with the finger piece 56 as an aid to removing the ring. Itis to be understood that the flange of the cap element normally has anoutside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the retaining ring, butthat stretching of the flange upon insertion over the top of the bottleincreases this outside diameter so that the retaining ring must bestretched to fit over the cap element flange. Thus, a secure grip is hadby the cap structure on the top of the bottle. The flexible strip 58keeps the retaining ring from being lost, and it readily can be forceddown over the cap element during reuse for the best possible securing ofthe cap structure on the bottle. It will be appreciated, that the ringin the previous embodiments similarly could be retained, although itwould be less convenient since the ring in the prior forms is anentirely separate article following the first installation of the capstructure on the bottle. Alternatively, the flexible strip 58 could becut off with a scissors or the like and the cap element could be reusedalone in the absence of the retaining ring. The material again iselastic, and as in the two previous embodiments preferably comprisespolyethylene plastic.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10for adapting a bottle or the like to use as a salt shaker or the like.This embodiment of the invention is generally similar to that shown inFigs. 7 and 8, and similar parts to those previously described areidentified by the same numerals with the addition of the suflix c. Thecap structure 360 again comprises a cap element 320 having a top wall,diaphragm, or web 3 40 joined thereto by a score line 60. The capelement again comprises a depending peripheral flange 38c having aninternal bead 340 for facilitating association of the cap element withthe top of a bottle 360. The retaining ring 48c is provided across itsupper end with a diaphragm or web 62 having a plurality of holes 64therein, and the ring is secured to the cap element by an integralflexible strip 580. For initial shipping, the cap element and retainingring are placed over the top of a bottle as heretofore. For use by theconsumer, the diaphragm or web 38s of the cap element is removed fromthe flange 38c by a Simple punching or cutting operation, and theretaining ring 4th.- is reinstalled over the flange of the cap element.The holes 64 in the diaphragm or web 62 preferably would be preformed,but if not, it would be a simple matter to punch them in the rather softmaterial of which the cap structure is made, this material again beingof an elastic nature, preferably polyethylene. Thus, the bottle 36c canbe inverted and salt or other granular material can be shaken therefrom.Such salt or the like could be supplied in a bottle initially, or thebottle could be converted for this use. Also, the bottle and perforatedcap structure could be utilized for sprinkling water or other liquidfrom the bottle for purposes such as dampening clothes that are to beironed. Furthermore, the web 340 could be perforated instead of beingremoved, and ring 48c could be rotated relative to the cap element toalign these perforations with the perforations 64.

Under some circumstances it might be desirable to utilize a retainingring of hard or other non-elastic material. Since the cap must beflexible or elastic for proper operation, then the cap element andretaining ring would generally be made separate. However, it iscontemplated that suitable materials could be utilized so that heat orchemical treating of the cap element and ring by difierent processeswould result in a generally flexible or elastic cap element and a hardand non-elastic ring. A construction wherein the ring is made of hard orother non-yielding material is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Theconstruction in the main is similar to that previously described, andsimilar numerals again are utilized, this time with addtion of thesuffix d. The cap element 32d of the cap structure 30d again is ofelastic material, preferably polyethylene plastic as has been mentionedheretofore. The cap element again comprises a web or diaphragm 34dhaving a depending peripheral flange 38d with an internal ridge or bead40d. In the present instance, the flange 38d is provided with a radiallyextending peripheral flange 66 at its lowest extremity to preventinadvertent movement of the ring to a position beyond which it issupposed to be telescoped. The cap element further is provided with atab 68 extending radially from the flange 66 to facilitate removal andreinstallation of the cap element. In the present example of myinvention, the retaining ring 48d is shown as being separate from thecap element. The retaining ring in the present instance may be made ofmetal or of a hard plastic which will not stretch to any appreciableextent, thereby holding the cap element about the top of a bottle or thelike with an even greater degree of tenacity than in the previousexamples of my invention. It will be understood that the limiting orstop flange 66 could be applied to any of the forms of my invention, butis of particular utility when the cap element and ring are of differentmaterials and wherein the non-elastic character of the ring may requirea harder or stronger force or push to telescope with the cap element.

The bottle cap structure, in accordance with my invention, is capablenot only of closing the top of a bottle or jar, but also is capable offorming a carrier or support for a plurality of bottles or jars. It isnow common practice to carry various beverages, either in bottles or incans, in units of a half dozen or so. Special carriers or containers ofvarious types have been devised for this purpose, and the most advancedof these attach only to a can bead or the like, for carrying. However,it has heretofore been necessary to support jars or bottles from below,no satisfactory structure having as yet been devised for carryingbottles and jars only from the top. With some modification, my bottle orjar cap structure is capable of so carrying bottles and jars as isillustrated in Figs. 1316. Thus, in these figures the cap structure 30e,similar parts again being identified by similar numerals with theaddition of the suflix e, again comprises a cap element 32a and aretaining ring 48a. The cap element comprises a web or diaphragm 34c anda depending peripheral flange Me having an internal ridge or bead 40a.The flange 38a again is held about the top of a bottle 36e with theinternal ridge or head Me of the cap element fitting beneath the bead42c of the bottle. A retainer ring 48c may be integrally connected tothe cap element by means of a shear section, or by means of a flexiblestrip as heretofore has been described, or the retainer ring I may beformed of a different material and may be entirely separate from the capelement. is illustrated in Fig. 14.

The latter alternative The novelty of the structure of Figs. 13-16 overthe previous embodiments of the invention resides in the provision offlexible strips 70 interconnecting the cap elements 32a of a pluralityof cap structures 30e. These strips 7 0 in turn are interconnected bycross strips 72 corresponding to the runners of the forming mold whichare integrally connected at the intersection 74 corresponding to thesprue. Thus, the connecting strips 70 secure a plurality of bottles 36::in abutting relation, and the group of bottles can be lifted simply byslipping the fingers under one or more of the connecting strips 72. Thematerial of the strips and of the cap elements again is of an elasticnature, preferably comprising polyethylene, and this material issufficiently soft that the bottles readily can be separated by cuttingthe strips 70 by means such as a knife or scissors, or the bottles maybe separated one by one by removing the cap structures therefrom.

The various examples of my invention heretofore shown and described allhave utilized internal ridges or beads for locking beneath the beads atthe top of the bottles or small jars. The cap structure also is usablein conjunction with bottles or jars of the wide-mouth variety having abead of rather substantial axial length, thereby rendering it in someinstances impractical to form a cap structure to extend below this bead.In this case, the cap structure may be held on the bead frictionally, asis illustrated in Figs. 17-22. The parts in this figure are largelysimilar in construction and function to those previously described, andbrevity again is served by utilizing similar numerals with the additionof the suifix f. The container in this instance is illustrated as beinga jar 36 having a rather high bead 42 This is the type of jar often usedfor packing fruit preserves and the like.

The cap structure 30 again comprises a cap element 32 and a retainingring 48f, the cap element and retaining ring in this instance beingjoined by a narrow shear section 50 The cap element again comprises aweb or diaphragm 34 and a depending peripheral flange 38 In the presentinstance, due in part to the rather great height of the bead 427 of thejar, there is no internal ridge or bead provided on the flange of thecap element.

It will be appreciated that the large diameter of the cap structure inFigs. 17-22 relative to the height thereof, renders the cap structuremore flexible than in the previous forms of the invention. As a result,accidental.- ly encountered forces might tend to remove the retainingring from the cap element. Such accidental separation is combatted bythe provision of a circumferential ridge on the outside of the capflange, this ridge being identified by the numeral 76, and by acomplementary internal groove in the retaining ring 48 the latter beingindicated at 78. Thus, when the ring is telescoped over the cap from theposition of Figs. 18 and 19 to the position of Fig. 20, thecomplementary ridge and groove will interlock securely to hold the ringon the cap until it is desired to remove the same. It will beappreciated that the cap element is stretched in being placed over thebead 42 as may be seen with reference to Fig. 19 as against Fig. 18, andthat the retaining ring thus will be stretched in moving over the capelement. Accordingly, the cap element flange and retaining ring exert asubstantial inward radial pressure frictionally to lock the cap on thejar 361. This frictional force may be augmented if the material in thejar is vacuum packed, as often is the case, by atmospheric pressurebearing against the diaphragm or web 34 of the cap element.

It has been indicated heretofore that the retainer ring and cap elementmight be telescoped by any suitable force such as a blow from a malletor hammer. It will be appreciated that this is a rather crude method ofassembly, since it requires an undue amount of hand labor. An improvedand more practical method of assembly is illustrated in Fig. 22 inconnection with the jar 36 and the cap structure 30;. In this figure,the jars are shown as supported by a conveyor 30 of any suitable typewhich carries them beneath a roller 82. The roller successively engagesthe retainer rings 48 of the cap structures 30 to force them down overthe cap elements 32f, shearing off the integral connecting sections 50fin so doing.

One further form of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 23. The partsagain are generally similar to those previously shown and described, andsimilar part numerals are utilized with the addition of the suffix g.The container again is illustrated as being a jar 36;; having acylindrical bead 42g. The cap structure 39g includes a cap element 32ghaving a web or diaphragm 34g and a depending peripheral flange 38g. Theretaining ring 483 is generally similar to those previously described,but additionally is provided with a radially inwardly directedcircumferential flange 84 at its upper edge. This flange overlies thetop of the cap element 32g and prevents the ring from being telescopedwith the cap element to a degree beyond that which is intended.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have invented animproved cap structure comprising two major sections, namely a capelement and a retainer ring. The retainer ring serves securely to holdthe cap element about the top of the bottle, jar, or the like, and thecap element can be reused either with or without the retainer ring. Theelastic nature of the material of the cap permits it to be used a largenumber of times without being permanently deformed or destroyed. Inseveral forms of my invention, the retainer ring is made integral withthe cap element, thereby facilitating initial handling of the closure orcap structure before assembly with a bottle or jar. In several forms ofmy invention, the integral connection is sheared off during assembly,while in other forms the integral connection remains as a flexible tabfacilitating removal both of the ring and of the cap element. In no caseis any decapping tool needed for either the retaining ring or capelement, thus representing an important stride forward in the art.

In addition to closing the top of a bottle or jar, my closure structureis capable of acting as a sifting or a sprinkling head for disseminatingsalt or other condiments, or water or other liquids for sprinklingclothes or the like. The closure means or cap structure also is capableof integral interconnection for carrying a plurality of jars or bottlesin contiguous relation as a unit.

The cap element and. retaining ring of my invention both may bestretched during installation to provide an elastic retention of theclosure means on the top of a jar, bottle, or the like. Alternatively,the retainer ring may be of hard and relatively non-yielding materialpositively insuring against any deformation of the cap flange wheninstalled in order positively to guard against leakage of air or thelike.

It is to be understood that the several embodiments of my inventionherein shown and described are for illustrative purposes only. Variousadditional structural changes will no doublt occur to those skilled inthe art, and will be understood as forming a part of my inventioninsofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An elastic plastic closure device for application to an end portionof a container, such as a bottle and the like; and comprising a bodymember having an annular portion of predetermined axial extent adaptedto be applied around the upper end portion of the container and havingan inner surface adapted to substantially conform to the adjacent wallof the end portion of the container, and an annular retainer memberinitially axially offset from the body member with an inner surfacesubstantially of the same diameter as the outer surface of said bodymember and of substantially the same axial extent, the outer surface ofsaid retainer member being radially offset outwardly with respect to theouter surface of said body member, and means providing a narrow integraland shear able junction substantially between the inner and lower edgeportion of the retainer member and the outer and upper edge portion ofthe body member, said body member being adapted for slight expansionsubstantially independently of the retainer member upon application tothe end portion of the container to a position where the inner surfaceof the retainer member is offset inwardly of the outer surface of thebody member to grip the same upon telescopic association therewith, andsaid integral junction between the body and retainer members beingbroken upon shifting of the retainer member axially to telescope withand embrace substantially the entire outer surface of the body memberunder stress whereby to exert a compressive retaining force on the bodymember substantially throughout the axial extent thereof.

2. An elastic plastic closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein asurface of the body member is provided with an annular bead operable toassist in maintaining the device in position on the end portion of thecontainer.

3. An elastic plastic closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein theinner surface of the body member is provided with an inwardly extendingannular bead adapted for engagement beneath a complemental bead on theend portion of the container.

4. An elastic plastic closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein theouter surface of the body member is provided with an outwardly extendingannular bead, and wherein the inner surface of the retainer member isprovided with a complemental annular recess receiving the annular headwhen the body and retainer members are telescoped with respect to oneanother.

5. In combination with a container, such as a bottle and the like,having an open end portion of predetermined outside diameter; theprovision of an elastic plastic closure device comprising a body memberhaving an annular portion of predetermined axial extent with an innersurface of slightly smaller diameter than the outside diameter of theend portion of the container and stretched thereover to snugly engagethe outer surface of the end portion of the container, said closuredevice also including an annular retainer member initially axiallyoffset from the body member with an inner surface offset slightlyinwardly of the outer surface of the body member when said body memberis applied to the end portion of the container and said retainer memberbeing of substantially the same axial extent as the body member, andmeans providing a narrow integral and shearable connection substantiallybetween the inner and lower edge portion of the retainer member andouter and upper edge portion of the body member, said integralconnection between the body and retainer members being broken uponshifting of the retainer member axially to telescope with and embracesubstantially the entire outer surface of the body member under stressresulting from the inner surface of the retainer member being stretchedover the outer surface of the body member whereby to exert a compressiveretaining force on the body member substantially throughout the axialextent thereof which is in engagement with the outer surface of the endportion of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,430,685 Sampson Oct. 3, 1922 2,398,554 Nyden Apr. 16, 1946 2,421,356Saffady May 27, 1947 2,439,845 Dc Swart Apr. 26, 194-8 2,665,023Migneault Jan. 5, 1954 2,669,369 Towns Feb. 16, 1954 2,671,572 Satz Mar.9, 1954

